Condenser



Feb. 17, 1931. P. ANDERssoN CONDENSER Filed May 10, 1926 auouoooocooo l3nooaooacoocot @oo Patented Feb. 17, 1931 PATENT OFFICE PELLE ANDERSSON,OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO AIiLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF MILVIAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CONDENSERApplication filed May 10, 1926. Serial No. 107,908.

This invention relates in general to improvements in the art oftransferring heat, and relates more specifically to improvements in theconstruction and operation of surface 5 condensers for steam.

An object of the invention is to provide a condenser which is simple inconstruction and eflicient in operation. Another object of the inventionis to provide improved instrumentalities for controlling thedistribution of steam in a surface condenser. further object of theinvention is to provide improvements in hot-well construction andoperation. These and other objects and advantages of the inventionwillbe apparent from the following description.

A clear conception of embodiments of the several features of the presentimprovement and of the operation of devices constructed in accordancetherewith, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying andforming a part of this specification in which like reference charactersdesignate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a part sectional and somewhat diagrammatic end view of animproved surface condenser.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged section taken transversely through thesurface con-' denser and showing the flow control mechanism in oneposition of adjustment.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View takentransverselythrough the condenser and showing the flow control means inanother position of adjustment.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged central vertical section through one form ofimproved hot-well construction.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged central vertical section through another form ofimproved hotwell construction.

The improved surface condenser specifically illustrated inthe drawing,comprises in general a main casing 2 which may be of elliptical crosssection and which provides a housing for a pluralityof parallel tubes; aconduit 4 providing steam admission means communicating with the upperside ortop of the casing 2; a hot-well providing condensate dischargemeans communicating with the lower side or bottom of the casing 2; andthe usual means, not shown, for admitting cooling water to the interiorof the tubes 3.

The tubes 3 located within the casing 2 are arranged in four nests orgroups, these groups being separated to provide a vertical enlarged lane12 extending centrally'through the casing from the inlet 4 to thehot-well 5, and to provide horizontal enlarged spaces or lanes 13, 14extending laterally from the central lane 12 to the opposite sides ofthe casing 2. The upper portion of the central lane 12 is preferablymade downwardly converging as shown, and it should be understood thatsteam admitted to the lanes 12, 13, 14 is capable of freely entering thespaces between .the tubes directly adjacent to these lanes.

Located directly adjacent to the junction between the lanes 12, 13, 14,is a set of flow control plates 7, 8 shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3.These plates extend throughout the length of the condensing chamber andare mounted for pivotal movement about parallel rods 26 supported in anyconvenient manner. The plate 7 is rigidly attached to a pair of endlevers 15 the swinging ends of which carry pins 17. The plate 8 isrigidly attached to a pair of similar end levers 16 having elongatedslots engaging the pins 17 of the levers 15. The pivots 26 are supportedby one or more brackets which are rigidly attached to a support 11located centrally within the casing 2. An actuating rod 9 is pivotallyattached to the rear of the plate 8 and extends through the lane 14, theend of this rod being screw threaded and coacting with the screwthreaded interior of an ad justing element 10 comprising a hand wheeland an externally threaded member coacting with a screw threaded platesecured to the casing 2.

The hot-well 5 shown in Fig. 4, comprises an outer cup shaped casing theupper end of which communicates directly with the condensate collectingspace 27 at the lower end of the main condenser casing 2. As illustrated, the hot-well 5 besides being made very largein diameter, hasconsiderable depth; The condensate discharge pump 6 has its suction 23communicating directly with. the i11- terior of a central cup 20.Located within the outer casing of the hot-well and surrounding the cup20 therein, is a cylindrical wall 18 which extends upwardly above theouter wall of the hot-well 5 and provides an annular space 22. The space22 surrounding the wall 18 communicates with thespace within this wallthrough a series of openings 2i penetrating the lower end of the wall18. Located within the wall 18 and surrounding the cup 20 is a steam orother hot fluid admission coil 19 the upper end of which communicateswith the space within the wall. 18 and the lower end of whichcommunicates with a steam admission pipe 21.

The hot-well 25 shown in Fig. 5, comprises an outer cup shaped casingthe upper end of which communicates directly with the condensercollecting space 27 at the lower end of the main condenser casing 2. Asillustrated, the hotwell 25 while being of relatively large diameter, isnot as deep as the hot-well 5 illustrated in 4;. The condensatedischarge pump 6 ot the embodiment shown in Fig.5, has its suction 33communicating directly with the interior of a central cup 30 whichextends downwardly below the main hot-well casing. Located within themain outer casing of the hot-well 25 and surrounding the upper extremityof the cup 30 therein, is a cylindrical wall 28which extends up wardlyabove the end of the outer wall of the hot-well 25, and provides anannular space 32. The space 32 surrounding the wall 28 communicates withthe space within this wall through a series of openings 34 penetratingthe lower end of the wall 28. l Vithin the wall 28 is also located a hotfluid admission coil 29 surrounding the upper extremity of the cup 30.The upper end of the coil 29 communicates with the space within the wall28 and the lower end of the coil communicates with a steam admissionpipe 81. I

During normal operation of the condenser, the steam is admitted to thetop of the casing 2 through the inlet l and cooling fluid is passedthrough the tubes 3. As the steam passes through the spaces between therelatively cool tubes 3, it is ultimately condensed and the water ofcondensation 1l()\ s downwardly through the condensate collecting space2'? to the hot-well 5 or 25 communicating with this space. It thecontrol plates 7, 8 are disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, aconsiderable volume of the steam is'free to flow downwardly through thecentral lane 12 and laterally directly to the lower tubes of thecondenser. If however the plates 7, 8 are adjusted to the positionindicated in Fig. 3 the steam which enters the converging upperportionot the lane 5 is caused to flow laterally through the lanes 13, 1 1',upon striking inclined plates 7, 8. The steam thus admitted to the lanes13, 1% is free to flow downwardly directly through the spaces of thelower groups of tubes thus insuring effective utilization of the tubesof these groups. The steam entering through the inlet & assuresettective utilization of the tubes of the upper groups, thus insuringbest efficiency of operation of all of the tubes 'within the casing 2.It will be apparent that the plates 7, 8 may also be set in anintermediate position whereby partial divergence of the flow through thecentral lane 12 to the lanes 13, 14, may be effected, and the plates 7,8 may be readily adjusted during normal operation of the condenser bymanipulating the element 10.

The hot-well is formed of relatively large diameter and of great depth,and the connection from the pump 6 t0 the hot-well is such, that at noload or at light loads when the water in the hot-well is low, the pumpsuction will be submerged thus preventing air from entering the pump 6.By virtue of the double wall construction of the hot-well, thecondensate is brought into contact with the hot fluid admission pipe 19or 29 and is caused to boil thereby driving off the air prior todelivery of the condensate to the pump 6. The admission of hot fluid tothe hot-well through the pipe 19 or 29 cooperates with the distributingplates 7, 8, to reduce the temperature drop through the condenser to aminimum, thereby avoiding so called refrigeration, and producing finaldischarge liquid of desirably high temperature.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction and operation herein shown anddescribed, for various modifications within the scope of the claims mayoccur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to'secure by Letters Patent:

1. In combination, a casing, a plurality of tubes within said casing,steam admission means communicating with one side of said casing,condensate discharge means communicating with the opposite side of saidcasing, said tubes being grouped to provide a central lane aliordingmeans of direct communication between said admission means and the spacesurroundin the tubes adjacent to said discharge means, and means forcontrolling the flow of fluid through said lane.

2. In combination, a casing, a plurality of tubes within said casing,steam admission means communicating with the top of said casing,condensate discharge means communicating with the bottom of said casing,said tubes being grouped to provide a lane extending downwardly betweengroups of said tubes and affording means of direct communication betweensaid admission means and the space surrounding the tubes adjacent tosaid discharge means, and pivotally supported plates for controlling theflow of fluid through said lane.

3. In combination, a casing, a plurality of ill tubes within saidcasing, steam admission means communicating with the top of said casing,condensate discharge means communicating with the bottom of said casing,said tubes being grouped to provide a central lane directly connectingsaid admission means with the space surrounding the tubes near saidhot-well and other lanes extending laterally of said first mentionedlane, and means for alternately conducting fluid directly through saidcentral lane to the tubes near said hot-well or through a portion ofsaid central lane and laterally therebf between said groups or tubes.

5. In combination, a casing, a plurality of tubes within said casing,means for admitting steam to said casing, a hot-well communicating withsaid casing, said hot-well comprising inner and outer walls forming anannular condensate receiving space, and a pump communicating with theinterior of said inner wall. 7

6. In combination, a casing, a plurality of tubes within said casing,means for admitting steam to said casing, a hot-well comprising centraland annular spaces in open communication with the interior of saidcasing, means for admitting heating fluid direct to said hotwell, and apump communicating with the space within the inner bounding wall of saidannular spaces.

7. In combination, a casing, means for admitting steam to said casing, ahot-well having an annual chamber communicating with said casing, aheating coil within the inner bounding wall of said chamber, and a pumpcommunicating with the space within said inner wall.

8. In combination, a casing, means for admitting steam to said casing, ahot-well having an annular chamber formed to receive condensate at oneend from said casing, and to deliver said condensate at the opposite endinto the space within the inner bounding wall of said chamber, means forheating the condensate delivered from said chamber, and a pump forremoving the condensate after heating.

9. In combination, a casing, a plurality of tubes within said casing,steam admission means communicating with one portion of said casing, ahot-well communicating with another portion of said casing, said tubesbeing grouped to provide intersecting vertical and horizontaldistributing lanes therebetween, adjustable means located at theintersection of said lanes for controlling the flow of fluid throughsaid lanes, and means for heaping the condensate delivered to saidhotwel 10. In combination, a casing, a plurality of groups of tubesWithin said casing separated by intersecting lanes, steam admissionmeans communicating with one end of one of said lanes, a hot-well havingan annular chamber communicating with the opposite end of said lane,means located at the intersection of said lanes for controlling thedistribution of steam between said groups of tubes, means for heatingthe condensate delivered to said hot-well, and a pump for removing theheated condensate from said hot-well.

11. In combination, a casing, a plurality of groups of tubes within saidcasing separated by intersecting lanes, and adjustable means located atthe intersection of said lanes for controlling the flow of fluidadmitted to said casing between said groups of tubes.

12. In combination, a casing, a plurality of 7 groups of tubes withinsaid casing separated by a vertical lane and other lanes extendinglaterally from said vertical lane, and adjustable means located at apoint of communica tion between several of said lanes for controllingthe distribution of fluid entering said casing between said groups oftubes.

13. A. surface condenser comprising a shell having a steam inlet andoutlet for condensate and uncondensible gases, a plurality of coolingtubes arranged transversely to the steam flow, means for by-passingsteam about a number of the tubes and additional means for directing thebypass steam onto others of the tubes.

14. A surface condenser comprising a shell having a steam inlet andoutlet for condensate and uncondensible gases, a plurality of groups ofcooling tubes arranged transversely to the path of steam flow, means toby-pass steam about certain groups of tubes, and separate means fordirecting the bypassed steam directly onto another group of tubes.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aflixed hereto.

PELLE ANDERSSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,792,796. Granted February 17, 1931, to

PELLE ANDERSSON.

it is hereby certiiied that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,lines 40 and 41, ciaim 6, for the words "said hot-well" read the spacewithin the inner bounding wail of said annular space; same page andclaim, line 43, for "spaces" read space; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with these corrections therein that the same mayconform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of April, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

